Inside the rising trend of barefoot performance in elite sport, thanks to Vivobarefoot.
At this year’s Wimbledon Championships, something quietly revolutionary happened, not just for tennis fans, but for anyone paying attention to how athletes are training in 2025.
Dutch professional tennis player Sem Verbeek, alongside partner Katerina Siniaková, took home the Mixed Doubles title in a standout win that celebrated not only their chemistry and skill but also an unexpected piece of performance gear: barefoot-style footwear from Vivobarefoot.
Verbeek credits part of his success to his off-court training in Vivobarefoot’s minimalist shoes, designed to enhance balance, agility, and foot strength by mimicking the natural biomechanics of barefoot movement. While traditional tennis shoes still rule Centre Court, the groundwork, it seems, is being done barefoot.
“Vivobarefoot has made me a better athlete,” said Verbeek. “My balance, agility, and foot strength all have improved since wearing them. Very excited to keep developing together.”
It’s a bold claim, but one backed by growing science and a rising wave of elite athletes who are turning to minimalist footwear as a way to unlock deeper levels of performance. Vivobarefoot’s shoes aren’t designed to cushion or support in the conventional sense, instead, they’re crafted to let the foot work as nature intended, strengthening muscles that modern footwear often neglects.
A New Approach to Athletic Conditioning
Vivobarefoot has long positioned itself at the intersection of performance and wellness. Their approach is simple: shoes should protect the foot, not override its natural function. And for athletes like Verbeek, that mindset translates into a training regime built around proprioception, foot strength, and full-body alignment.
The Primus Lite Knit, Verbeek’s shoe of choice for training, retails at £140 and offers a lightweight, breathable design with a flexible sole that encourages natural movement. It’s not built for show—it’s built for feel.
Shop the Vivobarefoot Primus Lite Knit
While you won’t see Verbeek wearing barefoot shoes during matches (Wimbledon’s strict dress codes and court requirements still apply), he trains in them extensively, using them in the gym, on recovery days, and in movement-focused sessions that support his on-court agility.
And that’s what makes this story interesting, not a flashy product placement on the court, but a powerful nod to how athletes are evolving behind the scenes. It’s about what happens between tournaments. What they’re doing in the gym. How they’re protecting their longevity and gaining micro-advantages in balance and movement that translate to real-world wins.
A Cultural Shift in Sport?
Verbeek’s endorsement of Vivobarefoot speaks to a wider movement happening in elite sport. More athletes are rethinking how they train, replacing heavy lifts with mobility drills, swapping rigid shoes for barefoot alternatives, and prioritising long-term strength over short-term gains.
For Vivobarefoot, it’s a validation of everything they’ve been building. From regenerative materials to circular design and a strong emphasis on foot health, the brand is carving out space not just as a lifestyle choice but as a serious training tool.
A Wimbledon Win, A Barefoot Breakthrough
Verbeek’s Wimbledon victory is undeniably a career high—but it also quietly marks a moment of mainstream visibility for barefoot performance. It suggests that foot health, agility, and balance aren’t just fringe interests for yoga fans or wellness influencers, they’re performance metrics that matter at the highest level of sport.
As more athletes like Verbeek publicly credit their training tools, Vivobarefoot is poised to become a key player in the future of athletic conditioning. Their shoes don’t just free your feet—they might just change your game.
Product Highlight: Vivobarefoot Primus Lite Knit Men’s – £140.00
Lightweight, breathable, and foot-strengthening, this barefoot trainer is designed to work with your body, not against it. Ideal for gym sessions, recovery walks, or movement training.
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